Gadkari plans negative points on licences, RCs

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari outlined plans to introduce a negative points system for driving licences and registration certificates at the 66th SIAM Annual Convention 2026. This system would deduct points for each traffic offence committed, with suspended or cancelled licences for repeated violations. The minister sought to improve road safety and driver accountability across the country.

Under the proposed framework, a person would lose points from their licence and RC for each traffic offence. Once a certain point limit was reached, the licence could be suspended or even cancelled. Good drivers with few points would be eligible for incentives, including potential insurance benefits, while habitual offenders would face escalating penalties.

To address poor driving habits, Gadkari announced plans to establish 1,600 driving training centres across the country, with 24 already operational and 112 more in development. As of now, around 10 lakh drivers have received training at these centres. The minister emphasized the need for accountability, stating that repeat offenders should face consequences for dangerous driving.

In other announcements, Gadkari revealed that the government would roll out Bharat NCAP 2.0 from October 2027, which would evaluate the entire safety chain of a vehicle. This initiative aimed to address India's high road accident rate, currently the world's third-largest passenger vehicle market.

Lastly, Gadkari announced plans for a new emission-control device for older BS IV vehicles, priced at Rs 4,000-5,000. This retrofitment device reportedly brought emissions up to BS VI levels, and trials had been completed successfully.